Chelate catalyst for olefin polymerization and olefin polymerization method using the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a novel chelated catalyst for olefin polymerization and an olefin polymerization method using the chelated catalyst. The catalyst of the invention is a liquid titanium compound chelated with an imidazole ligand. The method for olefin polymerization of the present invention is performed using the liquid titanium compound as a main catalyst component.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a chelate catalyst for olefin polymerization and a method for olefin polymerization using said catalyst. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chelate catalyst for olefin polymerization, comprising liquid phase titanium compounds chelated by imidazole ligand, and a method for olefin polymerization using the chelate catalyst.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the olefin polymerization in which transition metal compound react with olefin, efforts have been continually made to improve the properties of the polymer by changing the reaction condition of the transition metal compound. Especially, considerable advance has been made in effort to control the reaction condition of transition metal compound reacting with olefin by using metallocene compound which uses cyclopentadiene ligand as ligand for transition metal compound.

[0003] In 1980's, homogeneous catalysts which make use of metallocene compounds have drawn attention for their ability to provide a polymer having remarkable impact strength, transparency and so on, resulting from the excellent (co)polymerization properties with α-olefin. Especially, by synthesizing metallocene compounds which have, in the cyclopentadienyl group, special substituents such as indenyl, cycloheptadiene, and fluorenyl group which can control the electronic and stereo-spatial environment, metallocene catalyst that can control the stereo-regularity and the molecular weight of polymer was developed, and the range of use has been broadening.

[0004] Recently, many efforts are being made in the development of catalyst that can produce excellent copolymers while controlling granular morphology of the polymer, by using heterogeneous catalysts prepared by supporting metallocene compound on inorganic supporter. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,439,995 and 5,455,316 disclose production of heterogeneous catalysts which have excellent granular morphology and copolymerization properties by supporting zirconocene or titanocene compound on magnesium or silica compound. The metallocene catalysts, however, requires complicated process of organometallic chemical synthesis, and need the use of expensive methylaluminoxane (MAO) or boron compounds as a cocatalyst of olefin polymerization. Therefore, there has been need for compounds which can be easily produced. In addition, the polymers prepared by using metallocene catalysts have narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn=2˜5), making it difficult to process the polymer.

[0005] Recently, efforts are continuously being made to develop catalyst that can produce polymer with narrow molecular weight distribution and that can more easily be synthesized than can be done with metallocene compounds, through the use of chelate compounds bidentated or tridentated. Japan laid open patent publication Sho 63-191811 discloses the polymerization of ethylene and propylene by using the catalyst in which the halide ligand of titanium halide compound is substituted by TPB ligand (6-tert butyl-4-methylphenoxy). As a result of the use of methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst in polymerization of ethylene and propylene, it was reported that polymers with high activity and high molecular weights (average molecular weight of 3,600,000 or more) were produced. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,104 disclose an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising dioctylamine titanium halide {(C₈H₁₇)₂NTiCl₃} compound including amine ligand of large volume which substitutes halide ligand of TiCl₄ . US, J. Am. Chem. Soc. No. 117, p. 3008, discloses an olefin polymerization catalyst which uses, as a chelate compound which can control stereochemical space of transition metals, the compound or its derivative, wherein titanium or zirconium transition metal is chelated with 1,1′-bi-2,2′-naphthoxy ligand; and Japan laid open patent publication Hei 6-340711 and Europe Patent 0606125A2 disclose other chelate olefin polymerization catalyst for producing polymers of high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution, in which the halide ligand of titanium and zirconium halide compound is substituted with a chelated phenoxy group.

[0006] Also lately, attention is drawn on the olefin polymerization catalyst which uses a transition metal compound chelated with amine group. Organometallics 1996, Vol. 15, p. 2672, and Chem. Commun., 1996, p. 2623, introduced an example of an olefin polymerization catalyst which is prepared by synthesizing titanium compound chelated with various types of diamide compounds. And J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, Vol. 120, p. 8640 introduced a reaction propylene polymerization using titanium and zirconium compounds chelated with diamide. However, all these catalysts of chelated titanium compounds and zirconium compounds were introduced only for their possibilities as homogeneous catalysts, and no report has as yet been published that anything has been developed into a non-homogeneous catalyst which is supported on or activated by an inorganic supporter so as to improve the granule morphology, nor anything of its properties in copolymerization with α-olefin. Only, these chelate compounds, so far, disadvantageously involve use of the expensive MAO as cocatalyst.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a new catalyst for polymerization of olefin, which is a liquid titanium compound chelated with an imidazole ligand, and also to provide a method for polymerization of olefin which provides a polymer having a narrow molecular weights distribution and homogenous branch in the polymer chain, using above catalyst as a main catalyst in the presence of a magnesium halide compound and an organometallic aluminum compound.

[0008] The present invention relates to a new chelate catalyst for olefin polymerization, the chelate catalyst comprising liquid phase titanium compounds combined by imidazole chelate ligand, and a method for olefin polymerization using said chelate catalyst.

[0009] The olefin polymerization catalyst of the present invention is a liquid chelated titanium compound and is produced, as represented in the following reaction formula (I), first by reacting the compound in the form of Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ (here, R and R′ are alkyl groups) containing magnesium and aluminum with an imidazole chelate ligand to obtain a magnesium compound containing a chelate ligand and next by reacting thus obtained magnesium compound containing a chelate ligand with a titanium halide compound to obtain a liquid titanium compound, and finally by reacting the obtained liquid titanium compound with Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂.

Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂+imidazole chelate ligand→Mg compound containing the chelate ligand

Mg Compound containing the chelate ligand+titanium halide compound→liquid titanium compound

Liquid titanium compound+Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂→liquid chelated titanium compound   [Reaction Formula (I)]

[0010] The compound in the form of Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ used for producing the catalyst of the present invention, as represented by the below reaction formula (II), is produced by reacting a ordinary organometallic aluminum compound in the form of AlR″₃ with alcohol in the form of ROH to obtain aluminum alkoxy compound in the form of Al(OR)₃ and next by reacting the obtained aluminum alkoxy compound in the form of Al(OR)₃ with Grignard reagent in the form of R′₂Mg.

AlR″₃+3ROH→Al(OR)₃+3R″H

R′₂Mg+2Al(OR)₃→Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂   [Reaction Formula (II)]

[0011] (here, R, R′, and R″ are alkyl groups)

[0012] The reaction of AlR″₃ with ROH is exothermic, so it is preferable to conduct at a temperature of 0° C.˜10° C. and add slowly drop by drop, the reaction time preferably to continue for an hour or longer at normal temperature after the addition. The reaction of R′₂Mg with Al(OR)₃ is accompanied by slight heat, yet needs not any particularly low temperature.

[0013] For the ordinary organometallic aluminum compounds in the form of AlR″₃, triethylaluminum, trimethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, or the like are preferable, and for the alcohol in the form of ROH, such alcohols with six or more carbons of the alkyl group are suitable for the sake of a control the heat of reaction. And for the Grignard compound in the form of R′₂Mg, dibutylmagnesium, butylethylmagnesium, butyloctylmagnesium or the like are preferable. The reaction represented in the reaction formula (II), a simple one easy to perform, is desirable to be undertaken at normal temperature. As the reaction solvent, such aliphatic hydrocarbons as hexane, heptane and the like are preferable.

[0014] As represented in the reaction formula (I), magnesium compound containing a chelate ligand is produced by way of a reaction between the Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ produced by the aforesaid reaction formula (II) and a chelate ligand of imidazole.

[0015] Because imidazole chelate ligand is not dissolved in such nonpolar solvent as hexane, the chelate ligand should be dissolved in such solution of ester group as THF to manufacture liquid phase solution. The reaction between the aforesaid imidazole chelate ligand and Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ is one performed very smoothly and is preferable to perform in mild reaction condition such as a temperature from normal to 50° C. or less. The molar ratio for the reaction is preferably 1:1˜1:1.5, and more preferably 1:1.1. One hour or more is enough for the reaction while suitable time for the reaction time is from one hour to three hours.

[0016] For the imidazole chelate ligand, such compounds of benzimidazole, imidazole, benzotriazole and gramine or the like, or their derivatives are preferable.

[0017] By way of a reaction of the thus produced chelate ligand-containing magnesium compound with a titanium halide compound, the liquid phase titanium compound is produced. In other words, liquid phase titanium compound is produced by reacting said Mg compound containing a chelate ligand with a titanium halide for one hour or more at 65° C.˜70° C. after adding the chelate ligand to the titanium halide compound drop by drop at normal temperature. In this step, the appropriate mole ratio of magnesium and titanium is 1:1 or 1:1.1. The liquid phase titanium compound thus prepared is not soluble in nonpolar solvent such as hexane but soluble only to polar solvent such as ether.

[0018] But liquid phase titanium compound that is soluble in nonpolar solvent can be prepared by reacting the titanium compound with Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ again as follows: The liquid phase titanium compound prepared is reacted again with Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂, with mixing ratio 1:1, for more than 3 hours at room temperature and for more than 1 hour at the temperature of 40˜50° C. After the reaction, the solvent is removed by reducing the pressure, and by adding nonpolar solvent such as hexane to the solid component from which solvent is removed, the liquid phase titanium compound that is soluble in nonpolar solvent is isolated. Other solid component which is not soluble in nonpolar solvent is isolated and removed. In addition, the THF, which is added in order to dissolve imidazoles' during the reaction of titanium halide compound and magnesium compound containing chelate ligand, reacts with the titanium halide compound very abruptly. So it is preferable to first react titanium halide compound with THP at a slow speed before using the titanium halide compound.

[0019] For the titanium halide compound to be used in the present invention, such titanium halide compounds having at least two or more halide groups as TiCl₄, TiBr₄, TiCl₂(OR)₂, TiCl₃(OR), TiBr₂(OR)₂, TiBr₃(OR) (here “R” stands for alkyl or aryl groups) are suitable, and for electron donors, such ethers as diethylether, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran (THF), etc. are preferable, while THF is more preferable.

[0020] The olefin polymerization method according to the present invention is performed by using, as a main catalyst, said liquid titanium compound chelated with imidazole chelate ligand, cocatalyst and inorganic compound containing magnesium halide.

[0021] An ordinary organometallic aluminum compound in the form of R_(n)AlX_(3-n) (R refers to the alkyl group, X refers to halogen, and N refers to 1, 2, or 3) is used as a cocatalyst component, and the liquid phase chelated titanium compound, i.e., the catalyst of the present invention, does not form a solid matter by the reduction reaction with the ordinary organometallic aluminum compound used as cocatalyst for polymerization, and therefore the polymerization reaction is carried out more evenly than otherwise.

[0022] Solid inorganic compound of silica having particles of excellent shape which is made to contain magnesium halide is used as the inorganic compound containing a magnesium halide, used in the polymerization of the present invention, which compound can be produced by a publicly known method. That is, by reacting the solution of a magnesium halide compound dissolved in a hydrocarbon solution in the presence of such an electron donor as alcohol or the like with a compound which can react with alkoxy group of alcohol over the surface of silica, whereby alcohol is removed so that a solid magnesium halide can precipitate over the surface of silica. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,078 revealed a method for production of silica containing a magnesium halide by, first, coating the surface of the silica with an aluminum compound capable for reduction through reacting the silica (F952) dried at 200° C. for six hours or longer with an alkylaluminum compound; and next by reacting it with a solution of magnesium halide dissolved in a solution of alcohol and hydrocarbon, so that the aluminum compound capable for reduction can react with alcohol to have the silica contain a solid magnesium halide on its surface. Or else, it can be produced by reacting a Grignard compound with an alkyl halide or silicon halide compound over the surface of silica, whereby the thus generated magnesium halide compound will be made contained on the surface of silica.

[0023] According to the method for olefin polymerization of the present invention, a liquid phase titanium compound, activated in advance by mixing the liquid phase chelated titanium compound as main catalyst with the cocatalyst component, is used in polymerization of olefin in the presence of inorganic compound component containing a magnesium halide. According to the present invention, when the liquid phase chelated titanium compound is mixed with the cocatalyst, the chelated titanium compound in red turns green by the reduction reaction, but it is typical that no solid matter is formed during this reduction reaction.

[0024] The granular morphology of the polymer produced with the use of the olefin polymerization catalyst of the present invention is decided by that of the inorganic compound containing a magnesium halide, as can be seen, for instance, from the fact that when Sylopol 5550 from Grace Davison, of the US, which is excellent in granular morphology, is used in olefin polymerization, it is possible to obtain a polymer of 0.37˜0.40 in bulk density, and the shape spherical. Further to activate the magnesium halide over the surface of silica, it is possible to secure a much higher polymerization activity if it is reacted with a certain amount of the cocatalyst component in advance, prior to getting thrown in for the actual polymerization reaction. As the cocatalyst in the polymerization it is preferable to use the ordinary organometallic aluminum compound represented by the formula, R_(n)AlX_(3-n) (R is alkyl group, X is halogen, n=1, 2, or 3). The molar ratio of Al to Ti of the main catalyst (Al/Ti) is adequately 10˜50, the polymerization temperature preferably 40° C.˜90° C.

[0025] The olefin polymerization catalyst of the present invention is adequate both for polymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene with α-olefin, the α-olefin preferably those having 3 to 10 carbons. For instance, α-olefin of propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, or 1-octene is capable for copolymerization with ethylene, and the content of weight ratio of ethylene at such copolymerization is preferably at least 70% or more.

[0026] The olefin polymerization catalyst of the present invention is good for slurry or gaseous phase polymerization. Adjustment of the molecular weights can be done through that of temperature, the pressures of olefin and hydrogen, etc.

[0027] When the olefin polymerization catalyst of the present invention is used in slurry or gaseous phase polymerization of olefin, it makes possible the obtainment, through the ethylene polymerization, of a branched polymer having a density of 0.900˜0.960 g/cm and a narrow molecular weight distribution.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention is described in further detail through examples below:

EXAMPLE 1

[0029] The hydrocarbon solvent used in production of the catalyst of the present invention was rid of water by distillation in the presence of sodium, and so was the halogenated hydrocarbon by distillation in the presence of calcium hydride. All the reactions for production of the catalyst were performed in the atmosphere of nitrogen.

[0030] [Production of Titanium Compound Chelated with Benzimidazole]

[0031] After 400 mmol of AlEt₃(triethylaluminum) was so diluted in hexane solution as to become 400 ml, it was poured in a 1-liter flask, the flask was made by cooling water to keep normal temperature, and then 1,200 mmol of 2-ethyl hexanol was slowly added drop by drop, thus a colorless transparent solution was produced. Dropping took one hour, and gas was observed being formed by the dropping. After dropping it was stirred at normal temperature for one hour, and thus the reaction was completed. Then to that solution 200 ml of butyloctylmagnesium 1.0M heptane solution was added, and the mixture was stirred for one hour, whereby Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ solution (680 ml) containing magnesium and aluminum was produced (R=ethyl hexyl group, R′=butyloctyl group).

[0032] 5.92 g of benzimidazole (50 mmol) was put into a 1-liter flask, and was dissolved in 100 ml of THF and the solution of the above-said Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ (170 ml) was added to it, the mixture was stirred at 40° C. for one hour to obtain thereby a magnesium compound (A) containing imidazole ligand.

[0033] The thus produced compound (A) was reacted with 16.7 g of TiCl₄(THF)₂ at 40° C. for one hour. By the reaction titanium compound (B) was formed in red color. Then to this solution 170 ml of Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ was added, and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for three hours. By the reaction, red solution was formed, the solvent was removed by reduced pressure. After removing solvent, 500 ml of hexane was added to this oily compound, which was stirred at normal temperature for 6 hours, then stirring was stopped, after a wait for 20 minutes, white solid matter was observed to precipitate to the bottom, then the red solution in the upper layer was separated from the white solid matter at the bottom part, into another flask, and was used as the main catalyst for the polymerization reaction.

[0034] [Ethylene Polymerization Reaction]

[0035] Into a 2 l of autoclave fully substituted with nitrogen, 1000 ml of hexane, the polymerization solvent, was poured at room temperature, and the nitrogen in the autoclave was substituted with ethylene. 5 ml of the main catalyst produced as above at room temperature was reacted with 5 mmol of AlEt₃ at room temperature for 30 minutes, and thereby obtained liquid was added to the content in the autoclave. At this time no formation of any solid matter took place. Again the solution obtained by reacting 0.5 g of Sylopol 5550 (silica containing magnesium halide, of Grace Davison of the U.S) with 2.5 mmol of AlOct₃ (trioctylaluminum) in another flask for one hour, was injected into the autoclave. At 60° C., 1 kg/cm²•G of hydrogen was added, the pressure raised with ethylene to keep at 6 kg/cm²•G, the temperature raised to 70° C., and the polymerization was continued for one hour. The polymerized polymer was separated from the hexane and dried. The results are represented in the Table 1. As the result, 150 g of polyethylene was recovered, with the polymer's melt index (g/10 min) being 0.5, the MFRR 24.1, the polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution.

[0036] [Copolymerization of Ethylene/1-hexene]

[0037] To an autoclave of a 2 liter in capacity, a vacuum pump was connected. It was thereby evacuated of all oxygen and water, and then filled up with ethylene gas. Evacuation with the vacuum pump and the filling up like this were repeated three times or more, to purge the autoclave with ethylene gas. Then 900 ml of hexane, the polymerization solvent, was put in the autoclave, 90 ml of 1-hexene was added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. Then 5 ml of said main catalyst was reacted with 5 mmol of AlEt₃ at normal temperature for 30 minutes, and the green liquid obtained thereby was put into the autoclave. At this time absolutely no formation of any solid matter occurred. Again the solution, obtained by reacting 0.5 g of Sylopol 5550 and 2.5 mmol of AlOct₃ (trioctylaluminum) in another flask for an hour, was put into the autoclave. At 60° C., 1 kg/cm²•G of hydrogen was added thereto, the pressure raised with ethylene to keep the whole pressure at 7 kg/cm²•G, the temperature raised to 85° C., and the polymerization reaction was continued for 30 minutes. After the polymerization, an ethanol solution was instilled to terminate the reaction, and acidic alcohol solution was added thereto to separate the polymer. The obtained polymer's melt index was 0.45, and the MFRR, 23.1. Its characteristics are shown in Table 2. As shown in Table 2, it can be seen from the small MFRR that the molecular weight distribution is narrow, and from the low melting point of the polymer containing the same quantity of copolymer, that the copolymer's compositional distribution is even.

EXAMPLE 2

[0038] By the use of imidazole instead of benzimidazole, a titanium compound components chelated by imidazole was synthesized through same method as described in example 1. The polymerization and copolymerization reactions were performed in the same way as described in example 1. Results of the polymerization are described in Table 1, and those of the copolymerization in Table 2.

EXAMPLE 3

[0039] By the use of benzotriazole instead of benzimidazole, a titanium compound components chelated by benzotriazole was synthesized through the same method as described in example 1. The polymerization and copolymerization reactions were performed in the same way as described in example 1. Results of the polymerization are described in Table 1, and those of the copolymerization in Table 2.

EXAMPLE 4

[0040] By the use of gramine instead of benzimidazole, a titanium compound components chelated by gramine was synthesized through the same method as described in example 1. The polymerization and copolymerization reactions were performed in the same way as described in example 1. Results of the polymerization are described in Table 1, and those of the copolymerization in Table 2.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0041] [Production of Liquid Titanium Compound]

[0042] 100 mmol of AlEt₃ was diluted in a hexane solution into 100 ml, and was put in a 1-liter flask. At this time, the temperature of the flask was made to keep normal temperature by virtue of cooling water of normal temperature, and 300 mmol of 2-ethyl hexanol was instilled thereto slowly drop by drop, and thereby a colorless, transparent solution was produced. The instillation took one hour, and it was observed that gas was generated as the instillation continued. After the instillation, the solution was stirred at normal temperature for one hour, then the reaction was brought to an end. To that solution 1.0M of butyloctyl magnesium and 50 ml of a heptane solution were added, the mixture was stirred for one hour to produce Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ (R=ethylhexyl group, R′=butyloctyl group) containing magnesium and aluminum. The solution of the thus produced Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ was reacted with 16.7 g of TiCl₄(THF)₂ (50 mmol) at normal temperature for six hours. By this reaction the solid matter of TiCl₄(THF)₂, which was light yellow at first, gradually turned brown, while forming a white solid magnesium halide. After stirring at normal temperature for six hours, the stirring was stopped, and after a wait for 20 minutes, the white solid matter was seen sunk at the bottom. The brown liquid in the upper part was separated from the white solid matter, and used as a liquid titanium compound.

[0043] [Ethylene Polymerization Reaction]

[0044] The ethylene polymerization and copolymerization reaction is carried out in the same way as in Example 1, except the use of the liquid phase titanium compound component made as above. The results of the polymerization are given in Tables 1 and 2. TABLE 1 Chelate Bulk Density Ligand Activity¹⁾ MI²⁾ MFRR³⁾ (g/cm³) Example 1 Benzimidazole 300 0.7 24.3 0.42 Example 2 Imidazole 260 0.5 25.2 0.42 Example 3 Benzotriazole 320 0.6 26.3 0.41 Example 4 Gramine 380 0.8 24.1 0.41 Comparative — 400 0.6 29.3 0.37 Example

[0045] TABLE 2 Chelate Content of C6 Δ Ligand Activity¹⁾ MI²⁾ MFRR³⁾ in polymer H(J/g) Tm(° C.) Example 1 Benzimidazole 300 1.2 24.3 7.0 97 121.3 Example 2 Imidazole 260 1.5 23.2 7.2 98 122.1 Example 3 Benzotriazole 320 1.6 24.3 7.3 95 121.3 Example 4 Gramine 380 0.8 23.1 6.9 99 123.3 Comparative — 400 1.2 29.3 7.3 94 125 Example

[0046] As can be seen from the results, the polymers prepared according to the present invention have smaller MFRR of 23˜25 than comparative example (29), so have narrow molecular weight distribution. Moreover, the Tm of polymer having same amount of C6 branch is 121˜123° C. which is lower than that of comparative example (125° C.), which shows that the branch in the chain of the polymer prepared is more homogeneously distributed.

[0047] As described above, by using the catalyst for olefin polymerization of the present invention, polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution having branch in the polymer chain. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A chelate catalyst in the liquid state for olefin polymerization, prepared by the steps of: producing magnesium compound containing chelate ligand by reacting imidazole chelate ligand with the compound of the form of Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ (R and R′ stand for alkyl group); producing titanium compound in the liquid state by reacting said magnesium compound with titanium halide compound; and preparing the catalyst by reacting said titanium compound in the liquid state with Mg[Al(OR)₃R′]₂ again.
 2. The chelate catalyst in the liquid state for olefin polymerization of claim 1, wherein said chelate ligand is benzimidazole, imidazole, benzotriazole or gramine, or derivative thereof.
 3. A method for olefin polymerization, wherein the method is performed by using, as a main catalyst, the catalyst of claim 1, and, as a cocatalyst, organometallic aluminum compound of the form of R_(n)Cl_(3-n)Al (where R stands for alkyl group and n is 1, 2, or 3), in the presence of silica containing magnesium halide.
 4. The method for olefin polymerization of claim 3, wherein the main catalyst and cocatalyst are mixed in advance and introduced in liquid state. 